I think I may have just had the best weekend of my life! And it wasn’t voice over related! On Friday May 28 I was proud to see my son marry the love of his life in Houston, TX. Everything about the event was utter perfection. The venue, the music, the piper, the food and most of all the family and friends. I cried happy tears so many times. I may have even “ugly cried” once or twice, but I don’t think anyone has proof!
On Saturday we spent the day with the in-laws on Lake Conroe at their Lake House. Another amazing day with friends and family, good food and beautiful weather. On Sunday, we returned the favor and held a pool party at our house. The whole weekend was an absolute blast, but it wasn’t until Sunday night that I found out how good it was. After all the frivolity had subsided, I eventually sat down and looked at my phone. I took 1 picture, yes ONE picture of the whole weekend.
Being present. It wasn’t a choice I made before the weekend started. I was just so enraptured with the whole weekend that every moment was a treasure I wanted to experience with my mind, not with a phone pointed at it. The emotions that were felt over the weekend seemed to be amplified by the fact I wasn’t trying to capture it on a device for posterity. The moments were being enjoyed for what they were. Heartwarming, laughter inducing and tear creating moments that will never be forgotten for as long as I live.
And it will improve my voice over performances. What makes all of us unique in voice over is our life experiences. We all bring our own stories with us and that bleeds into our performances. It is inevitable and should be embraced. The more experiences you have, the more you can pull from them. This weekend has added so many more emotions that I can use to get in character for an audition. Proud – check. Overwhelmed – check. Elated – check. The list goes on.
So, as life start to get back to some sort of normal, get back out and start experiencing things again. And instead of taking pictures at every opportunity, take some time to just enjoy it. Really pay attention to how it makes you feel deep down inside. That personal memory and the associated feelings will be worth way more to you in the long term than a quick post on Facebook. Which reminds me, still no Facebook evidence of my “ugly cry”. Long may that continue.
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You’re right Craig and this is a great reminder. I will as another wrinkle if you don’t mind. When I take photos I often think of my childhood. We didn’t have money for a camera so almost nothing got recorded. What I wouldn’t give to have those photos now. I also think of my dad, who died of Alzheimer’s, and of my fear that I may face the same fate. I have seen how my wife’s family uses their family photos to reinforce their memories. I want to be able to do that also, to make it harder for them to fade if and when my time comes.
Now, that is no excuse for not being engaged in the moment.…
Love a good ugly cry! They're the best! Congratulations to your son and his new wife, and hooray for a wonderful family weekend. Beautiful!
"The emotions that were felt over the weekend seemed to be amplified by the fact I wasn’t trying to capture it on a device for prosperity." Haha I think you mean POSTERITY! Boy, I wouldn't blame you if you were doing it for prosperity, I'd be taking as many pictures as I could so that I could be amply rewarded, relation or no relation getting married! :-) Haha! But yes, I totally feel this one. There are times where I REALLY have to get out of my phone and back into my life. Thanks for the great reminder.
I'm sure I could photoshop a nice ugly-cry of you if I need to LOL! I kid, I kid! But seriously, I absolutely agree about just getting out there and at least (AT LEAST) take a FEW moments to put the phone down and just savor a moment that never needs to be shared with the world. A moment in nature, a moment out with friends/family. Any moment at all. I used to be a daily vlogger on YouTube and since that channel slowed down I really started noticing the memories I was actually making that I wasn't worried about getting footage of.